Saturday, 22 October 2011

Mellor are now fifth in the Premiership, but only two points behind second placed Bedians, who visit Wood Lane next Saturday.

With manager Si Dalby away, assistant Phil McGreal selected Dan Byrne at left back, switching Dave Whelan to right back. Paul Swann, returning from a hernia, was a welcome sight on the bench.

There was drama inside 30 seconds when a back pass was shanked up in the air by Grove's keeper and Matt Cotton came in to head past him into the empty net.

Matt Cotton scores inside 30 seconds

Grove forced a corner on four minutes after a shot was blocked.

On eight minutes Chris Coram fired straight at the keeper.

Mellor were dominating the play but keeper Tom Fletcher was called on to palm a shot away after 14 minutes.

On 23 minutes a Craig Frisby clearance found Matt Cotton who danced inside two tackles and slipped the ball to the right to Matt Jamieson whose curling shot found the net for 2-0 off the post to the keeper's right.

Matt Jamieson makes it 2-0

Cotton tested the Grove keeper on 25 minutes and 40 minutes.

Mellor were dominant, Jonny Cooke a threat on the right and Cotton and Jamieson giving the Grove defenders plenty to think about.

The second half began with a flowing Mellor move between Jamieson, Jonny Cooke and Chris Coram who set up Jack Parr but his carefully prepared shot was a foot wide.

Jack Parr scores Mellor's third

Parr made amends, however, on 56 minutes sliding in from 12 yards after Dan Byrne had released Matt Cotton who unselfishly crossed for the midfielder to net from 10 yards.

Carl Brindley slams in number six

That was Parr's last contribution and he was immediately replaced by Rob White who went to full back, releasing Dave Whelan to right midfield.

On 59 minutes following a poor goal kick, White intercepted and played the ball forward to Cotton who hooked the ball in for 4-0.

On 62 minutes Carl Brindley replaced Matt Cotton

On 74 minutes Dan Byrne got on the scoresheet, firing home after Chris Coram's shot was blocked.

Then three minutes later Brindley made it 6-0 after another Coram shot was blocked.

Matt Jamieson....7-0

Paul Swann replaced Jonny Cooke, who had tormented Grove's right flank all afternoon.

On 87 minutes Swann fed Dave Whelan who found Matt Jamieson and the striker thumped home number seven.

On 90 minutes Whelan had a long range shot well saved.

Then in injury time a lovely move between Whelan and Rob White saw the full back cross only for Carl Brindley's shot to be blocked.

Ben Beer was named Man of the Match but Dan Byrne was not far behind.

Mellor Seconds lost 2-3 at home to Moorside Rangers.

Mellor wnt 0-2 down and then missed a penalty.

The visitors went 0-3 ahead but Mellor rallied with goals from Scott Cassidy and Carl Bradbury.

Matt McNulty was Man of the Match.

The Thirds, well placed in third spot in Division C, beat Whalley Range Third away 6-2. Man of the Match Marcus McNulty scored three, Nick Entwistle (2) and Sam Healey also scored.

The Fourths lost 1-2 against Hooley Bridge Thirds. Thomas Tognarelli scored. Mike White was Man of the Match.

Saturday, 15 October 2011

Mellor FC Firsts inflicted the first league defeat of the season on Premiership table toppers Spurley Hey, with a 4-3 away win.

Mellor raced into a 3-0 lead in 15 minutes with goals from Jonny Cooke (2), and Dave Moss.

The visitors dominated the game and extended the lead to 4-0 with a Matt Jamieson strike. But Spurley rallied and scored three times in the last 20 minutes to set up a dramatic finale. Mellor hung on for three vital points. Craig Frisby was Mellor's Man of the Match.

Spurley are still six points clear of the nearest rivals. But Mellor are up to fifth.

Mellor Seconds lost 0-8 at home to Tintwistle Firsts.

Tim Parker heads wide

Mellor were missing several key players and fielded a very young side.

The home side fell behind to the first of three penalties on 10 minutes. The offence came after a defender allowed the ball to bounce over his head.

On 12 minutes Cody Wharton made the first of four excellent saves, pushing the ball to his left after a powerful downward header.

On 22 minutes Mellor survived a scare, the ball being kicked off the line.

But the reprieve was short lived. In the same attack the ball was chipped back in and Cody Wharton might have done better with the Tintwistle forward's header that he could not hold and it dropped behind him over the line for 0-2.

On 34 minutes Mellor hit the post after a Matt McNulty corner.

On 44 minutes Andy Kuehl put in a long range shot which the keeper saved easily.

On 48 minutes a marvellous scissor kick from a right wing cross put Tintwistle 3-0 up.

On 55 minutes they made it 4-0.

Tim Parker shoots from range

James Humphries then replaced an injured Andy Kuehl and began to have an impact in midfield.

On 56 minutes Rick Axford replaced Jason Cassidy.

A minute later Tintwisle missed a sitter. But on 58 minutes they made it 5-0 with a second penalty.

On 80 minutes Cody Wharton made a great save, from a header.

A third penalty made it 6-0. Cody Wharton then made another great save, plunging to his left to turn the ball round a post.

Friday, 14 October 2011

Have you been snapped with a celebrity? The Mellor FC blogspot wants your photographs and any amusing associated anecdotes. We start our new feature with Mellor players Matt Clayson and Tom Bright meeting Gary Neville in Krakow in the 2012 Euros. Then Chris Oyston and John Barnes....Then Arnie and David Silva, followed by Paul Goodwin and Kris Akabusi, followed by Kurt Rome and Mick Fleetwood. Then it's ex Mellor star Oscar Cariss with the Chuckle Brothers.

Phil Welsh gets up close and personal with boxing star Evander Holyfield.

Matt McNulty and Kian Egan of Westlife.

Then we see Aaron Greaves meeting SKY Sports Nick Collins. After Aaron we have Pete Boydell and Chris Eubank.....then Sam Jamieson with David de Gea, Steve King and Dion Dublin then George Dearsley meeting the Japanese ex World Cup captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto....then Matt McNulty meeting Labrinth.....then Manchester City fan Stu Thorley meets Juan Mata before the Chelsea v City match. Thought he might have a least stood on his foot. Then comes Tim Phillips and Denis Law. Following that we have Mellor striker Ian Arnfield meeting comic Jason Manford recently. Arnie is on the left. Below that, Chris Culkin and former Wolves keeper, now at Everton Marcus Hahnemann.

Following that Pat Boyle and Danny Dyer, actor and West Ham fan. Then there's Si Boydell and New Order's Peter Hook and Jamie Philp and Vincent Kompany, Pete Boydell and Reggae Reggae Sauce man Levi Roots. Also there's Adam Axford and George Dearsley with Graham Roberts and Paul Parker. The Mellor men were fan pundits on TV for the Carling Cup Final. Followed by Jamie Philp and Shay Given. Finally Adam Sidebotham and cricketer Monty Panesar.

Matt Clayson, Tom Bright and Gary Neville

Oyston & Barnes...get round the back!

Arnfield and Silva

Paul Goodwin & Kris Akabusi

Kurt Rome & Mick Fleetwood

Ex Mellor star from the 1990s Oscar Cariss with the Chuckle Brothers

Phil (the Power cut) Welsh and Evander Holyfield

Matt and Kian

Aaron Greaves meets SKY Sports Nick Collins

Pete Boydell and Chris Eubank

Sam Jamieson meets Man Yoo keeper David de Gea

Stephen King and Dion Dublin

George and Miyamoto, ex Japanese World Cup captain

Matt McNulty meets Labrinth....(a popular singer M'lud)...at the MEN Arena for the Key 103 Live gig in July 2012

Manchester City fan Stu Thorley puts Juan Mata straight on midfield play before a Chelsea v City game...

or maybe he went to the wrong dressing room. Mate....you should have gone to Specsavers!

This programme was found in Lewis Jeffs' dad's attic. Although it refers to Otters Villa FC it features many players who either played or in the case of Craig Frisby still play for Mellor FC. We think the vintage was 1992 and it was produced for a Cup Final.

Sunday, 9 October 2011

Mellor Firsts progressed to the quarter finals of the Stockport Senior Cup after a thrilling 5-4 home win against Cheadle Town Reserves.

Mellor, who hit five goals for the third week running, led throughout but were pegged back four times before Carl Brindley scored the winner in extra time.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory against the side from the North West Counties reserve league. Mellor hit the woodwork three times and had four times as many goal attempts as the visitors.

Mellor almost took a sensational 20 second lead, Matt Jamieson firing straight at the keeper from the edge of the area.

Matt Cotton's cross was then cleared for a corner and from the flag kick Steve Smith's header was blocked for another corner.

On 12 minutes Cotton then tested the keeper again with a fierce drive and three minutes later the same player shot wide from a good position, after Jamieson slipped him in.

Ben Beer heads wide

Mellor's dominance was due to the power running of Cotton, Jamieson, Parr and Cooke and the intelligent passing of central midfielders Steve Smith and Man of the Match Chris Coram.

The breakthrough came on 38 minutes. Good work by Matt Cotton set up Jack Parr on the right and his cross found Jonny Cooke who drove the ball home right footed just inside the post to the keeper's right.

Jonny Cooke makes it 1-0

Mellor appeared to be in full control of the game but a minute before the break a rash challenge by Ben Beer conceded a penalty and Town were level with their first meaningful attempt on goal.

A minute after the restart a delicious move involving Cotton and Dave Whelan on the left saw the full back cross for Jamieson to head over from seven yards.

Cheadle had their second attempt on goal on 51 minutes, firing high from a good position. A minute later a scramble in the Town six yard box following a Jamieson free kick saw Matt Cotton smash the ball home from close range for 2-1.

Matt Cotton makes it 2-1

Town's defenders struggled to contain Cotton's surging right wing runs and the striker found the byeline again on 57 minutes only to send his cross behind.

On 66 minutes Craig Frisby headed over from a Whelan free kick and six minutes later Whelan was on hand with a last ditch tackle to prevent a Town breakaway goal.

Cheadle now had their best spell of the game and Frisby's full length tackle blocked another promising shooting chance for the visitors.

On 76 minutes Dave Moss replaced Smith, who had an excellent match.

Ben Beer then misread a long pass forward on the right wing and Town's striker sent his shot wide. Carl Brindley replaced an injured Parr on 78 minutes.

On 80 minutes Town headed in from a corner for 2-2.

Matt Cotton then set up Dave Moss who drilled over from the edge of the area.

With five minutes left a powerful Jamieson free kick was fumbled by the keeper and Cooke followed up to score.

Cooke (far left) races in to score after the keeper fumbles

Mellor looked home and dry but on 88 minutes Mellor keeper Jason Wilde had to plunge to his right to turn a fierce drive around the post. The reprieve was short lived as Town equalised for a third time after Mellor's defence twice failed to clear the ball.

In the second minute of extra time Jamieson shot wide from Whelan's corner. Then on five minutes Jamieson hit the base of the post with the keeper motionless. It was all Mellor again and on eight minutes only a desperate challenge stopped Cotton from scoring.

On 12 minutes Whelan was hauled down by two defenders in the area and referee Roy Bowden pointed to the spot. Jamieson duly scored but the referee made him retake the kick because of his stuttering run up, as Cheadle players, in a bit of gamesmanship, shouted that the ball was not on the spot.

Jamieson's reprise was an emphatic as his first kick and Mellor led 4-3.

Jamieson scores from the spot for 4-3

A minute later Jamieson might have earned another penalty as he was dragged to the floor but the referee waved away appeals.

In the first minute of the second period of extra time Brindley skied a chance and two minutes later a Town striker danced through four tackles to score arguably the goal of the game to make it 4-4.

With six minutes left Town then hit the post. But the game was settled by a Mellor break two minutes from time, Cotton hooking in a cross from the byeline which bisected the six yard box for Brindley to gleefully smash home.

Mellor Seconds recorded their first win of the season 2-1 at home (in Brabyns) to Rochdalians. Scott Cassidy and Ian Arnfield scored.

Mellor Thirds lost 2-4 at Droylsden, Tom Bright scoring a brace.

Mellor Fourths won 3-2 at home against Stoconians and go third in Division D. The scorers were Maciek Sobiegraj, Hayden Mills and Adam Somerville.

The 100 Club draw was made. The winner (£80) was Care Needs with number 75. Second (£40) was Andy Coop number 90.